Serving the public for 144 Years, the Pilot is here to stay and continuing to grow

from Maurice Jones, President and Publisher of The Virginian-Pilot, maurice.jones@pilotonline.com

Almost everywhere I go these days, somebody greets me with the words, “I am praying for you.” Usually, I thank them and hesitatingly ask what they see in me that is in need of divine intervention.

The most common answer? They’re praying for me to succeed at “keeping The Pilot from going out of business.” With humility and confidence, I want to inform you that we are not about to go out of business. We have been striving to contribute to the welfare and prosperity of this region for 144 years. There is still work to be done, and today we are as committed to this mission, and as capable of achieving it, as we were in 1865.

Let me share a few reasons for my confidence. For the rest of the story: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/04/publisher-serving-public-144-years

And from Denis Finley, Editor of the Pilot:

• If you have been reading the paper this past year, you know that it has been a brutal time for us and for the industry. Layoffs, eliminating sections, price hikes, expense cutting, whole newspapers shutting down.. Some readers I’ve talked to have even used the “C” word, as in, “Will The Pilot just close up shop?”The answer is an emphatic no. And more... http://hamptonroads.com/2009/04/editor-pilot-here-stay

More from Maurice Jones:

• Based on your responses to my letter published on Sunday, April 19, it appears that the most surprising information I shared with you is the size of the audience reading The Virginian-Pilot in print and online. To refresh your memory, I said that on Monday through Saturday more than 404,000 adults read The Pilot daily in print. An additional 72,000 individuals a day seek news, information and advertising content from PilotOnline.com, HamptonRoads.com and HamptonRoads.tv. Every Sunday, over 56% of South Hampton Roads adults read The Pilot (more than watch the Super Bowl). If that's so, why do we all keep hearing, "nobody's buying the newspaper these days"? Great question. Let me share a few important points with you on this topic. More...http://hamptonroads.com/2009/05/publisher-continuing-grow

A Voice for Hampton Roads

by James F. Babcock

“Who Speaks for Hampton Roads?”

This excellent question, raised by Louis Guy in a Virginian-Pilot (V-P) Dec. 27, 2008 op-ed, is especially pertinent now as the region faces a perennial crisis in transportation funding, the possible loss of an aircraft carrier, a decline in tourism, a weakened economy, and budget cuts all around.

The answer is, “No one entity ─ it depends on the issue.” Numerous private regional associations exist to speak out for particular interests: the Retail Alliance for retailers, HRACRE for commercial realtors, the Chambers of Commerce for business in general, the Cultural Alliance for the arts, and so on.

On public issues, however, where the right to answer for the general public depends on legitimacy conferred by election, the only regional organizations that can speak for the region are those in which the region’s legislators or its mayors and county chairs serve. These include the Legislative Caucus, Planning District Commission, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Mayors & Chairs Caucus, and Hampton Roads Partnership.

Each of these entities was created at a different time for a particular limited purpose. None can be said to do an especially effective job of involving the public in its decision making. And each suffers limitations that would not apply, say, to a full-blown regional government, which the public doesn’t want. As a result, as Mayor Paul Fraim observed in his year-end V-P op-ed, “No one is in charge.”

Over the past few years, the Future of Hampton Roads, a volunteer organization, through its Regional Structure Project, has sponsored conferences and study groups to produce thoughtful recommendations for improving the performance of these regional organizations without either merging our municipalities or creating a regional government. Detailed reports have been submitted in the past year to the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Hampton Roads Partnership, and Mayors & Chairs.

One study group report soon to be submitted to the elected leadership specifically deals with the urgent need identified by Mr. Guy to create an authoritative voice for Hampton Roads. Based on successful regional models elsewhere (Metro-Dade, Twin Cities Metro, etc.) but adapted to our region’s unique circumstances, the recommendation is to obtain a state charter for a Hampton Roads Metropolitan Council.

The proposed Metro Council would undertake key tasks not now being performed. It would:

• oversee the regional aspects of economic and tourism development;
• direct periodic updating of a comprehensive regional vision;
• coordinate preparation of an annual regional legislative agenda; and
• strengthen regional decision-making.

Supported by Planning District Commission staff, the proposed Metro Council would establish working relationships with the other regional organizations. For example, an updating of the regional vision every five to seven years might best be performed on behalf of the Council by the Hampton Roads Partnership. Also, the Council could engage the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement to assist in creating essential public participation in basic decisions.

An alternative to creating the Council might be to refashion one of the present regional organizations. In any case, having a Metro Council with definite power to make decisions on a short list of key regional issues would provide a vehicle for more assertive regional leadership and to fill the present gap in high level policy formulation.

The huge challenges the region now faces warrant serious attention to implementing this structural improvement. We should accept Louis Guy’s advice. Let’s get organized.

Mr. Babcock, retired Chairman and CEO of First Virginia Bank Hampton Roads, is a founding member of the Hampton Roads Partnership, Vice Chairman of the Future of Hampton Roads, Inc. (FHR) and manager of FHR’s Regional Structure Project, whose reports are posted on http://www.fhrinc.org.

2009 General Assembly Transportation Bills

Comment by HRP Guest Blogger Matt Simons, a Masters in Public Administration graduate student at ODU and a student of urban planning.

What we have is an elected-MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) with no taxable authority to implement any of their own recommendations. So, unlike well functioning cities like Portland, Oregon whose MPO has the ability to appropriate projects via a regional gas tax or toll control, instead we have two separate hands trying to deliver goods but from two separate bodies.

Because Virginia is what's known as a "Dillon-rule state," of which only 6 states remain, the cities nor the region are able to implement specific taxes which apply only to the region. So, we must allocate money from each municipality’s general fund and then beg Richmond for state funds or Congress for federal funds.

But, where in the general fund do we specifically take the money? Every amount we take will come with an opportunity cost, i.e. taking money from schools. The 18 cent per gallon gas tax increase would, of course, be met with initial complaints, but, in comparison to neighboring states, our gas tax is relatively low. But, most importantly, city drivers demand more out of the road than their rural counterparts. The future of the local economy is dependent on our areas’ transportation infrastructure.

Whether it be Light Rail, a Third Crossing, a new Jordan Bridge, a Midtown tunnel expansion, or, hopefully, all of the above. We need to be able to fund these projects. The alternative, which we are now realizing, is an economic truth; from our inability to appropriate funds, we will begin to see private infrastructure built with the direct intention of turning a profit.

We will be forced to pay a toll if we need to travel over a bridge or through a tunnel. Although this is a pretty good “plan B”, “plan A” would involve no tolls at all and our economic future could thrive uninhibited. But, this comes now with a hefty gas tax, which will only get stronger as we continue to neglect the growing need.

Anyone who dares to complain about this tax has no right to complain about traffic congestion. Period.


Matt shared his comment to this January 23rd article by Dave Forster of The Virginian-Pilot:

RICHMOND-- Two Hampton Roads delegates plan to unveil tax proposals today that they say would raise $1.75 billion to help meet a budget shortfall without cutting so deeply into public services.

Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, said he and Del. Kenneth Melvin, D-Portsmouth, plan to introduce bills that would:

* Raise $1 billion annually for transportation projects by adding 18 cents to the gas tax.
* Raise a projected $750 million by increasing the state income tax on people who earn more than $300,000 to 6.5 percent - an increase from the current 5.75 percent rate.

The bills will likely be dismissed in the Republican-controlled House, where the leadership has opposed tax increases to fund transportation.

Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said he had no problem with the proposals but referred to them as "Don Quixote" -like in this General Assembly.

"It ain't going to happen," Saslaw said. "I proposed a penny-a-gallon for five years, and it went nowhere."

Alexander hopes to build support from the Legislative Black Caucus, which could discuss the ideas today at a scheduled news conference. A consensus of the members at a caucus meeting Thursday was an endorsement of the proposals, Alexander said. Several members were away at other committee meetings.

"The caucus is trying to find solutions," Alexander said.

The state is facing a $2.9 billion revenue shortfall in next year's budget.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has proposed cuts in funding for public education, colleges and health care to balance the budget.